Tommy Smith and Josh Carson are the only Town players away during the international break playing World Cup qualifiers. Smith, 22, flew out to New Zealand last night.

The All Whites face New Caledonia away in Noumea on Friday 7th September and the Solomon Islands in Auckland on Tuesday 11th September. Smith has previously won 16 full caps, scoring once.

Carson is with the Northern Ireland squad taking on Russia at the Locomotiv Stadium in Moscow on Friday 7th September, then Luxembourg at Windsor Park, Belfast on Tuesday 11th September.

Carson, 19, has previously won four caps at full level, most recently as a sub in the 3-3 friendly draw with Finland earlier this month.

Photo: Action Images

pazelle added 11:56 - Sep 3 Tommy Smith never stops! Good luck to the lads!
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lilcornishblue added 12:07 - Sep 3 errm thats great and everything but does that mean he is out for our game against middlesbough?? if so we are in deep trouble as he is one of our only cb and we need cbs against bough especailly as they have such a strong attack force!!! st ledger in on loan now!!!!
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Mark added 12:28 - Sep 3 I expect Smith will just about be back for the Middlesbrough match, but he could easily pick up a knock in the two matches and will surely be tired after travelling to the far side of the planet. Tommy hasn't been playing well as it is, without this. Releasing Delaney, who has limitations but is solid enough, without a replacement does seem a strange decision. Yes, we hope to bring someone else in on loan but we all know how ITFC deals tend to fall through.

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RetroBlue added 12:29 - Sep 3 Great! So now Smith goes off on yet another International tour of duty. He really needsa rest- he's no had one since the end of the season before last - mental fatigue , staleness = mistakes ! To say nothing of the fact we have no other CB's at the club due to the "wise" removal of Delaney before we get someone else in. And anyway , we need at last 2 CB's , not the "one" Jewell has in mind!

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fussysnake added 13:31 - Sep 3 I dont think Smith has preformed well enough so far this season if im hounest.
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DiamondGezzer added 14:35 - Sep 3 Retro Blue :- I'm with you on this one, rather than go off playing in this enforced break, he should have been made to sit this one out.
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newtownfan13 added 16:00 - Sep 3 congratulations to the lads, brilliant that they have been selected for World Cup qualifers go for its lads and make your countries proud. Carson at 19 years of age must be delighted with this call up, well done wee man.
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chorltonskylineblue added 16:11 - Sep 3 DiamondGezzer: you can't 'sit out' internationals. Only options are to retire - bit steep at 22 - or feign injury. I'd like to see St Ledger in, but he's first choice for Ireland, so at same risk of injury during the internationals. But I'd also like us to keep Tommy. He's young and still learning. CBs like McGreal, Venus, De Vos and McAuley weren't rated that highly when they were his age, but they matured into solid defenders who did well here. Give him time. He hasn't had the best circumstances to develop here.

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WadeyBlue added 16:49 - Sep 3 What a load of rubbish all you 'too many games etc' people are spouting. He's 22, he could play everyday. jeez get a grip. he's not in his 40's.
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TimmyH added 20:17 - Sep 3 Well if he was a Premiership player they would be spurting on about how many games he has been playing without any rest in the off-season, especially if he was about to play for England in a major Championship. Bloke needs a rest.
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Talbs77 added 20:27 - Sep 3 He needs all the help he can get including a rest!! God help us!!
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bennyitfc added 20:51 - Sep 3 We're getting PL centre halves on loan.......calm!
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runningout added 13:59 - Sep 5 excuse me for being harsh, but Smith will not be missed if not back in time or tired 'bless him' .. He needs to pick up his form quicker..
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